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17-02-2014

ARA News

Qamishli, Syria− Renewed clashes took place on Saturday in the district of Gueran in Hasakah city between Islamic factions and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad −backed by members of the National Defence Army.

The clashes broke out intensely and abruptly on Thursday as a convoy of Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham Movement fighters entered the district.

Dilovan Mohammed, a local activist based in Hasakah city, told ARA News that the regime forces targeted on Saturday the Gueran district with artillery shelling, stationed in Jabal Kawkab area (10 km east of Hasakah city), coincided with clashes between the Islamic factions and the regime forces amid reciprocal firing of mortar shells.

“The regime forces demanded fighters of al-Nusra and al-Sham Movement to surrender, threatening them of bombarding the district and breaking into it with tanks and heavy vehicles,” Mohammad said. “Gueran district is besieged by the pro-Assad forces since days.”

Meanwhile, a local source reported to ARA News an increasing displacement movement of residents of Shaddadi city in the southern countryside of Hasakah to nearby villages due to an expected attack by Jabhat al-Nusra against strongholds of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the city. Fighters of al-Nusra intend to regain control over Shaddadi.

On Friday, five residents of Shaddadi city were detained by ISIL group on charge of supporting anti-ISIL rebel groups.